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–+ servings
A delicious baked pasta dish with stuffed shells, meat sauce, and melted cheese, perfect for a perfect dinner recipe.

What Makes Perfect Dinner Recipes? Try This

Discover the qualities of great recipes and explore new dinner ideas. Learn tips for cooking dinner with this family-favorite recipe.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 667
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Beef Mixture
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the Pasta Mixture
  • 1 pound medium pasta shells cooked and drained
  • 4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese divided
  • 3 cups cottage cheese
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper remaining
To Finish
  • 1 jar pasta sauce 24 ounces

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • large bowl
  • Baking dish

Method
 

  1. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking meat into crumbles; drain. Sprinkle with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, 3 cups mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley and the remaining pepper.
  3. Transfer to a greased shallow 3-qt. or 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with beef mixture and spaghetti sauce (dish will be full).
  4. Cover and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.
  5. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes longer.
  6. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 667kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 44gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 157mgSodium: 1209mgFiber: 4gSugar: 12g

Notes

This recipe is a family favorite that balances ease of preparation with delicious results. It's a great option for busy weeknights when you want a satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

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